Noan was startled when he saw the notification from the System.

    "The Gatekeeper? Could it be... I killed the Mutant Hunter?" Noan felt a deep sense of confusion.

    But there was one thing he could be certain of—he couldn''t kill the Mutant Hunter.

    "Could it be that girl?" Noan recalled the dream from earlier.

    He tried to remember her face, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t.

    In his memory, her face was shrouded in a thick mist, obscuring the upper part completely.

    Yet, when he looked at the blood and the shattered remnants of the Mutant Hunter''s outer skin, he knew for sure... The Mutant Hunter was dead, but not by his hand.

    However, that no longer mattered. The most important thing was that he and Vylyss were safe. More than that, they had somehow completed a hidden mission.

    At that moment, another notification appeared.

    [Ding! Because you are the first to complete the hidden mission of the ''Chaotic Zone,'' the ''Treasure Chest'' has been upgraded to a ''Legendary Treasure Chest.'']

    [Ding! Because you completed the hidden mission alone, you have been awarded an additional ''Resource Center Key.'']

    [Ding! You have received the ''Pioneer'' medal, which has been placed in ''Storage.'']

    [Ding! Would you like to announce this achievement to the entire ''Chaotic Zone''?]

    A series of notifications startled Noan. The rewards were abundant, but...

    He lowered his head and looked at Vylyss lying in his arms, his heart aching as if stabbed by a blade.

    "No!" Noan suddenly muttered in his mind. "There must be something among these rewards to help me heal her."

    That''s right. He had received a ''Legendary Treasure Chest.'' Surely, there would be something inside that could be useful for Vylyss.

    He took a deep breath and softly said, "Vylyss, trust me. I will definitely heal you."

    Vylyss, upon hearing his words, nodded slightly. Her eyes were half-closed as she rested her head against his chest as if it were the safest and most peaceful place in the world.

    She said nothing, yet she trusted him completely. From the moment she appeared, she had witnessed the miracles he had brought forth.

    Noan had not only shattered her perception but also proven that as long as he remained alive, he would one day stand among the lords of this world.

    After all, the ability to fuse and evolve monsters was something no one else possessed.

    Such power was believed to belong only to the gods, yet Noan wielded it.

    Even if he failed to restore her, she wouldn''t mind.

    Vylyss believed in him—believed in him. Even if she could no longer fight, she was willing to resign herself to being nothing more than his plaything just to remain by his side.

    A gentle, contented smile suddenly graced her lips as if she had found the ultimate truth that defined her existence.

    Noan, however, was different. He had no interest in Vylyss''s thoughts. His only concern was whether the ''Legendary Treasure Chest'' would grant him what he needed right now.

    "Hide notifications!" Noan commanded. This was the first thing he needed to do.

    She couldn''t speak, her lips lost in the depth of Noan''s kiss. But tears continued to fall.

    This time, however, they were not tears of pain.

    They were tears of happiness.

    She was just a Succubus. No matter how powerful, her potential had always been limited.

    Using something as priceless as the Rainbow Crystal on a Succubus was nothing short of extravagant—like throwing a chunk of gold into the sewers.

    And yet, Noan had done it. He had given her this chance to recover and retain her complete form.

    Even without the binding contract of Lord and Hero, Vylyss swore to herself that she would never allow something like today to happen again.

    "Master, I will protect you. I swear... I will protect you."

    "Forever by your side. Forever loving you..."

    Vylyss whispered silently in her heart, closing her eyes and letting herself melt into this intoxicating moment.

    The Rainbow Crystal slowly sank into her chest, disappearing completely.

    At that instant, a divine and majestic energy erupted.

    Simultaneously, a dark and insatiable force also emerged.

    Two opposing energies, each carrying completely different essences, surged into Vylyss''s body.

    It was strange—these two conflicting forces should have clashed and repelled one another, and yet they intertwined seamlessly.

    They began to fuse slowly, forming a massive energy sphere within Vylyss''s body.

    Guided by the power of the Rainbow Crystal, a stream of radiant energy carrying seven colors intertwined with a swirling black-and-white force seeping into every part of her being.

    Noan pulled away from Vylyss''s lips, his eyes widening as her body radiated an intense glow.

    He flinched instinctively, but when he saw her wounds healing—her severed arm and torn wings slowly regenerating—his heart filled with joy.

    "Ack!"

    Suddenly, a surge of energy erupted, sending Noan flying backward over five meters.

    He steadied himself with effort, his gaze locking onto Vylyss, who now hovered mid-air, enveloped in those strange, conflicting energies.

    Then, countless magical symbols materialized, weaving together to form a cocoon around her.

    Noan could no longer see her, as the layers of magical runes were so dense that they wrapped around her like countless layers of fabric.

    However, he wasn''t worried. He knew—Vylyss was evolving.

    Patiently, he waited beside her.

    More than an hour passed before a system notification appeared before him.

    [Ding! Congratulations! You have successfully evolved Vylyss and she becomes ''Fallen Believer'' - Rank B.]